"Affirmation of Essentiality in Rent Control"
In an interview with Jornal de Negoçios, Oliveira emphasised the importance of housing charters and the necessity of rent control and speculative price controls in regulating the housing market.
Oliveira suggested that existing housing policies should be monitored and that housing charters are essential for defining urban pressure zones and determining the need for rent control. However, the interview did not specify which countries Oliveira was referring to or which areas do not need rent control.
Housing charters are comprehensive documents that outline foundational housing policies, tenant protections, development standards, and zoning regulations. These elements work together to support housing delivery and management in communities facing urban pressure.
Foundational requirements set the baseline for local government roles in housing provision, infrastructure funding, and land acquisition for community facilities. Tenant protection policies address tenant rights during redevelopment and relocation, while zoning and development standards focus on increasing housing supply near demand centers.
Oliveira believes that these components of housing charters are crucial in minimising displacement risk and rent spikes in gentrifying or high-demand areas. Zoning reforms to increase housing supply can alleviate market pressures that drive up rents, reducing the necessity for rent controls.
Moreover, Oliveira emphasised the urgency of having adequate territorial management tools, such as the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) being increased for vacant properties in areas under pressure. However, the interview did not provide details about the specific territorial management tools Oliveira believes should be implemented.
Oliveira also stated that there is a lack of public policies aimed at reducing housing prices. The process of completing housing charters in municipalities is overdue, according to Oliveira, and he emphasised the need for more interventionist housing policies.
In conclusion, Oliveira's comments indicate a focus on targeted, location-specific housing policies and a need for more interventionist measures to address housing shortages and affordability issues in urban pressure zones.
Oliveira underscores the importance of increasing the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) for vacant properties in areas under pressure as a territorial management tool. He believes that the process of completing housing charters in municipalities is overdue, emphasizing the need for more interventionist housing policies. Furthermore, Oliveira suggests that reducing housing prices requires targeted public policies, and emphasizes the need for comprehensive documents outlining foundational housing policies, such as housing charters, to address urban pressure and its resulting challenges in the housing-market, real-estate, and lifestyle sectors, by focusing on property investments and home-and-garden development.
